TSUBA TIGER

[Hen67]

Can you identify the school/maker of the tsubas?

[SteveM]

宗栄作　Munehide-saku (Made by Munehide).

 

There are at least 4 artists who signed as Munehide. This looks like it is Munehide from the Iwamoto school (early 1800s). 

 

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Steve,

I'm curious: would a tsuba from the early 1800's have that much of the design on the seppa-dai? I thought that was a Meiji & later thing. Also, the katakiri borii seems a bit heavy handed to be that early.

Grey

[Winchester]

Very curious for Steve's response in order that I may learn more. I am a novice collector and my initial thoughts were consistent with Grey's.

 

That's the great thing about this hobby, though--always learning. 

[SteveM]

Wakayama lists 4 Munehide. Two are Myōchin artists (Tosa and Oshū) which I rejected out of hand.

 

The other two are both Iwamoto artists. By default I'm guessing this tsuba is from one of the Iwamoto Munehide artists. 

OR, the mei could be a forgery, or this smith could be missing from Wakayama (meikan more).